Aldi has hit its goal of powering its Australian operations with 100 per cent renewable energy six months ahead of schedule, resulting in an 85 per cent reduction in the company’s CO2 emissions.

The German supermarket chain achieved this through on-site generation using solar, offsite generation through power purchase agreements with wind farms, and the acquisition of market renewable energy certificates.

“As the 67th biggest user of electricity in Australia, we recognise the significant role we have to reduce our impact on the environment and contribute to a more sustainable future,” said Aldi Australia chief executive Tom Daunt.

“Our customers care about ensuring they purchase with purpose and every time someone walks through our doors they can feel confident their weekly shop isn’t costing the Earth.”

However, being power fully by renewable energy is just one of the supermarket’s goals. By 2025 Aldi aims to send zero waste to landfill, with the smaller goal of zero food waste to landfill to be hit in 2023, and the business will continue to find more opportunities to recycle within its ecosystem.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific chief executive David Ritter said the milestone was proof of genuine corporate climate leadership in action.

“Renewable energy is the cheapest form of new energy, and capable of powering Australia’s biggest businesses. Aldi’s leadership in the race to power all Aussie supermarkets with renewables is a landmark day,” Ritter said.

“Australia is blessed with abundant renewable resources. We are the sunniest and windiest country in the world, it just makes sense that businesses like Aldi are choosing to power their operations using renewable electricity.”

Both Woolworths and Coles have also committed to power its operations through renewable energy by 2025.